Pointing device utilizing a photodector array
AssigneeLogitech, Inc.
InventorsMarc Bidiville, Eric Raeber, Javier Arreguit, Harthmuth Buczek, Floris A. Van Shaik, Fran.cedilla.ois Bauduin, Denis O'Keeffe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cursor control device for personal computers and workstations includes various embodiments, some of which include a patterned ball and some of which rely on other patterned surfaces, which recognizes changes in the position of the pattern relative to a sensor having an array of photosensitive elements. Circuitry associated with the sensor determines movement of the pattern across the array, and translates that movement into conventional cursor control signals supplied to a host system.
Claims24
An optical sensor for detecting radiation reflected off of a surface, said optical sensor comprising:
- a plurality of pixels, responsive to said radiation reflected from the surface, each of said pixels includes:
- a photodetector element for receiving said radiation reflected from said surface and for converting said radiation into an electrical signal having an signal strength corresponding to an intensity of said received radiation;
- a first memory unit for storing a first intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a first time;
- a second memory unit for storing a second intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a second time;
- a first comparator, disposed to receive signals from said first memory unit, for identifying that an edge condition occurred between said first time and said second time if a ratio between said first and second intensity values is not within a predefined range.
A method for detecting radiation reflected off of a surface by a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of:
- receiving said radiation reflected from said surface at a pixel;
- converting said radiation into an electrical signal having an signal strength corresponding to an intensity of said received radiation;
- storing a first intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a first time;
- storing a second intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a second time;
- and
- identifying that an edge condition occurred between said first time and said second time if a ratio between said first and second intensity values is not within a predefined range.
An optical system for detecting radiation reflected off of a surface by a plurality of pixels, comprising:
- first receiving means, for receiving said radiation reflected from said surface at a pixel;
- converting means, converting said radiation into an electrical signal having an signal strength corresponding to an intensity of said received radiation;
- first storing means, for storing a first intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a first time;
- second storing means, for storing a second intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a second time;
- and
- first detecting means, for identifying that an edge condition occurred between said first time and said second time if a ratio between said first and second intensity values is not within a predefined range.
An optical sensor for detecting radiation reflected off of a surface, said optical sensor comprising:
- a plurality of pixels, responsive to said radiation reflected from the surface, each of said pixels includes:
- a photodetector element for receiving said radiation reflected from said surface and for converting said radiation into an electrical signal having an signal strength corresponding to an intensity of said received radiation;
- and
- a first comparator, disposed to receive an adjacent pixel signal from an adjacent pixel of said pixel representing an intensity of radiation received by said adjacent pixel, for comparing a signal representing said first intensity value with said adjacent pixel signal to identify one of an edge condition and a direction of said edge condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.